Liberal candidate Marisa Sterling says her spirits and political ambition are undimmed, despite her election loss to New Democrat incumbent Peter Tabuns in Toronto-Danforth.

“I think that serving as an elected official is the ultimate way to (serve a community),” Sterling said. “I am going to be an MPP.”

“I’m going to stay a part of this community in Toronto-Danforth,” she added, “and we’re going to stay a family here and we’re just going to grow this family.”

Sterling earned 11,209 votes, or 30.7 per cent of the total, while Tabuns garnered 19,701 or 53.9 per cent. A small margin in early returns suggested a close race, but soon Tabuns began pulling away.

When it was over, Sterling told her supporters who had gathered for an election-night party at Three’s Company on Danforth Avenue that she appreciated their hard work — even referring to them as “her family.”

One of them, public relations director Catherine Davey, said that Sterling put together a strong team.

“When you know you’ve had a really good campaign… is when you make great friends that last forever,” Davey said, “and that’s what I made this campaign.”

Campaign manager Rob Newman, who Sterling describes as her “yin and yang,” agreed that Sterling will be back, and said there will be a more favourable outcome next time around.

“We created a real crack team here that knows now what it takes to run a winning campaign,” he said.